Our first assignment was to go and find different surfaces that we create a pattern or image by rubbing charcoal across the paper when an object or interesting surface was placed underneath it.
We formed groups of 4 which felt a little awkward as we didn’t know each other at all but our quartet quickly started working together as a team we decided on an outside destination which was Brompton Cemetery. I found it awkward using charcoal especially the thin sticks which I kept breaking but after a while I got the hang of it and together we produced a number of really interested images incorporating the cobblestones, tree bark, gravestones, engraved signs and more.
We assembled a selection of our images into an installation on the wall using the grave rubbings and the engraved signs as the central piece with the tree, brick and wall images on the edge. We put all the floor surfaces on the floor showing a variety of the different grounds that we came across.
Shading, negative space and practicing Frottage
I practiced charcoal drawing and Frottage at home and found I really enjoyed it. I like how quickly you can create an interesting image.
THREE DIMENSIONAL SHAPES
We had been looking at Matthew Monohan in class and the task was to create a 3d structural and/or textural drawing. I paired with Maddison for this task which was great as we both shared with each other how we felt a bit shy but then we launched into it together with great gusto!
We started with thick, matte, white paper which we folded into equal, straight folds to create a concertina effect which we then made into a tall vase shape. Having placed that on the plinth, we took thinner sheets of paper and created different patterns with felt tips, pencils and crayons then we scrunched them up to give extra texture. We used these to make flowers that we placed in the vase. Finally we drew a crack in the base of the vase and made long ribbons with blue wave patterns to represent water cascading out the crack and down the plinth.
I really enjoyed working in a team and I felt we created a good piece that we managed to complete within the time.
COLLAGE ON MOVEMENT
After sketching the English National Ballet in a class, trying to capture movement with pencil and charcoal, we looked at capturing movement using collage. In this piece, I wanted to create a feeling of swirling around so I made a background of patterned circles using some rubber packaging material that had this design embossed on it. I then made an ink pad by putting some purple ink on cotton wool and trying out different pressures of ‘stamping’ until I got this pattern. I cut out dancers legs from pages in magazines and fixed them in this shape, trying to portray the stages of a leg kicking upwards. I chose these particular pages to use because the colour reminded me of the Tiffany’s blue which made me think of Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The colour is iconic and it connected me to the film character who is a free spirit and the actress who was so elegant and graceful, like the dancers. The other cut out parts symbolise the movement of arms and hair and the swirling, sparkling diamonds add to the feeling of something that is not static. The butterfly is of course a symbol of transformation which is what I observed happening when the dancers moved from their initial still, statue-like pose, suddenly bursting into life with beautiful, strong and elegant movement.
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